Main Content

Michael Strassfeld papers

Ms. Coll. 1218

This is a finding aid. It is a description of archival material held
at the University of Pennsylvania. Unless
otherwise noted, the materials described below are physically available in our
reading room, and not digitally available through the web.

Rabbi Michael Strassfeld (born February 8, 1950) is an American Reconstructionist Rabbi. Raised in a Orthodox Jewish household,
Strassfeld was profoundly influenced by the burgeoning Jewish anti-establishment movement in the Boston area in the 1960s
and early 1970s. The Michael Strassfeld papers contain the records of the his education and life's work. Represented are elements
of his Orthodox upbringing, traditional Jewish education, influence of the Jewish anti-establishment and countercultural movements
of the 1960s and early 1970s, and his training and practice as a Reconstructionist Rabbi.

Biography/History

Rabbi Michael Strassfeld (born February 8, 1950) is an American Reconstructionist Rabbi. Born in Dorchester, Massachusetts,
Strassfeld attended the Maimonides School, an Orthodox Jewish day school in Brookline, Massachusetts, graduating from high
school in 1967. He went on to attend the Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary at Yeshiva University in New York City
for one year before transferring to Brandeis University in Waltham, Massachusetts, where he received a BA, magna cum laude
with honors, in Near Eastern and Judaic Studies in 1971, and an MA in Near Eastern and Judaic Studies in 1972. From 1972 to
1976 Strassfeld completed coursework for a PhD in Jewish History from Brandeis. He attended the Reconstructionist Rabbinical
College in Wyncote, Pennsylvania, becoming an ordained Rabbi in 1991.

Raised in a Orthodox Jewish household, Strassfeld was profoundly influenced by the burgeoning Jewish anti-establishment movement
in the Boston area in the 1960s and early 1970s. Strassfeld was one of the founders of Havurat Shalom, in Somerville, Massachusetts,
established in 1968 as the first countercultural Jewish community in what would grow to become a national Havurah movement.
Strassfeld was one of the leaders of retreats held at Weiss's Farm in Long Branch, New Jersey, which brought together members
of some of the first Havurot in the US, and would eventually lead to the establishment of the National Havurah Institute and
the National Havurah Committee.

After brief stints as Principal of the Temple Adas Israel Hebrew School in Hyde Park, Massachusetts (1971), and Assistant
to Hillel Director at Brandeis University (1972), Strassfeld published in 1973 with first wife Sharon Strassfeld and colleague
Richard Siegel,
The Jewish Catalog, a do-it-yourself manual on how to be Jewish. The publication was extremely popular and was followed by second and third
catalogs in 1975 and 1981. Strassfeld also published
The Jewish Calendar, from 1975 to 1993, and
The Jewish Holidays, in 1985.

Strassfeld was employed by Congregation Ansche Chesed in New York City for almost two decades. He served as Leader of High
Holiday services from 1982 to 2001; Director of Program and Development from 1984 to 1988; Executive Director from 1988 to
1991; and, following his ordination, Rabbi from 1991 to 2001. Ansche Chesed is an egalitarian, participatory Conservative
synagogue on Manhattan's Upper West Side. In 2001, Strassfeld became Rabbi of the Society for the Advancement of Judaism,
a Reconstructionist synagogue also on the city's Upper West Side, where he served until his retirement in 2015.

Strassfeld was a founding chairperson of the National Havurah Committee from 1979 to 1982; a founding vice-president of the
Abraham Joshua Heschel School, an egalitarian day school in Manhattan in 1983; a founding board member of Beyond Shelter,
a coalition of Manhattan synagogues concerned with homelessness from 1987 to 1988; and a founding faculty member of the Institute
for Jewish Spirituality in New York City, from 1999. Strassfeld was also a member of the board of Rabbis for Human Rights,
North America, and received the Rabbi Israel & Libby Mowshowitz Prize from the New York Board of Rabbis in 2000.

Rabbi Strassfeld is married to Rabbi Joy Levitt. He and first wife Sharon Strassfeld have three children.

Scope and Contents

The Michael Strassfeld papers contain the records of the Reconstructionist Rabbi's education and life's work. Represented
are elements of his Orthodox upbringing, traditional Jewish education, influence of the Jewish anti-establishment and countercultural
movements of the 1960s and early 1970s, and his training and practice as a Reconstructionist Rabbi. The collection is made
up of eight series: I. Education; II. Jewish counterculture and later progressive movements; III. Synagogues; IV. Observances;
V. Teaching; VI. Works by Michael Strassfeld; VII. Books and other publications from the library of Michael Strassfeld; and
VIII. Photographs from the publication of
The Jewish Catalog. A ninth series, Judaic sound recordings, is in process and will be added to this finding aid when completed.

The series on "Education" contains mostly notes, research papers, and study materials created by Strassfeld from his years
in high school at the Maimonides School to his undergraduate and graduate student years in Near Eastern and Judaic Studies
at Brandeis University, as well as his study to become ordained as a Rabbi at the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College. Additionally,
there are study materials from continuing education courses at a number of institutes and study centers including the Institute
for Jewish Spirituality, the Shalom Hartman Institute, and others.

The series of "Jewish counterculture and later progressive movements" includes materials concerning the Havurah movement,
feminism, sexuality and gender, environmentalism, peace, the persecution of Soviet Jews, and youth movements, among others.
Materials include newspapers and ephemera of the time, notes from meetings and retreats, and positional papers on a range
of topics. Also in this series are materials from Strassfeld's co-founding and association with Havurat Shalom and the National
Havurah Committee.

The third series on "Synagogues" contains the working papers of Strassfeld's time as lay employee and later Rabbi of Congregation
Ansche Chesed (1982-2001), and as Rabbi of the Society for the Advancement of Judaism (2001-2015), both located on the Upper
West Side of Manhattan. Many of these files are managerial in nature, representing the day-to-day issues faced in managing
and serving as a leader of two progressive and egalitarian houses of worship. Because of clergy-congregant privilege a small
number of files in this series are restricted. More information on this can be found in the "Access Restrictions" note in
this finding aid.

The series on "Observances" includes materials associated with sacred services at Strassfeld's two synagogues (as well as
the occasional service while visiting another congregation). These materials include programs, readings, notes, and sermons
for weekly services, special services, and holidays; the High Holidays services of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur; Prayer and
lifecycle ceremonies including birth ceremonies, bar/t mitzvahs, and marriages; and Healing services and resources.

The series on "Teaching" covers courses taught by Strassfeld, mostly in his capacity as Rabbi at Congregation Ansche Chesed
and the Society for the Advancement of Judaism, but also through conferences and community organizations.

The series "Works by Michael Strassfeld" is comprised of a range of writings, public presentations, and other creative works.
Included are speeches given in various venues and on a range of occasions; a large collection of hand-written eulogies; files
associated with the writing and publication of
The Jewish Catalog; and an assortment of other writings and works such as magazine articles, books, and documentation on assembling Strassfeld's
substantial collection of Jewish sound recordings.

The series of "Books and other publications from the Library of Michael Strassfeld" is comprised of approximately 333 individual
titles. Included are the published works by Michael Strassfeld such as
The Jewish Catalog, called the most successful book to come out of the Jewish counterculture, and its subsequent volumes;
The Jewish Calendar; and several other important titles. Also, there are books on a range of mostly Jewish topics which were selected by Strassfeld
as a representation of works important to his development as a Rabbi. These have been divided into categories including: Comparative
religion; The Holocaust; Jewish counterculture; Jewish community; Jewish feminism; Jewish fiction; Jewish guide books; Jewish
historical sources; Jewish modernity; Jewish music; Jewish pastoral services; Jewish practices; Jewish spirituality; Jewish
theology; Jewish youth and education; Rabbi manuals; Sidderum (prayerbooks); as well as non-Jewish books; and a selection
of progressive Jewish periodical issues. Many of these works may be found elsewhere in the Penn Libraries, and complete bibliographic
citations are given to facilitate finding copies within Franklin.

There is a series of "Photographs from the publication of
The Jewish Catalog." These number over 250 individual prints, and contain scenes especially from the Havurah movement, depictions of Jewish
practices and rituals, and scenes of Jewish life from around the world.

Series IX. Audio material contains a collection of over 950 sound recordings (LPs, cassettes, and CDs) of Jewish music collected
by Strassfeld over the course of his life. The collection emphasizes sacred Hasidic music, but also includes examples of the
Jewish folk revival, and a small amount of Klezmer instrumental music and Yiddish song.

Administrative Information

Publication Information

University of Pennsylvania: Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts, 2016 December 14

Finding Aid Author

Finding aid prepared by John F. Anderies; Hebrew music listed by David Kalish and Louis Meiselman

Access Restrictions

The majority of this collection is open for research. A small number of files are restricted due to personally identifiable
information or clergy-congregant privilege. Researchers interested in viewing restricted files in this collection should email
the Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rarebooks, and Manuscripts for permission. The following files are restricted for
clergy-congregant privilege: Box 9, Folder 34, 38, and 39; Box 11, Folder 26; and Box 12, Folder 53. Box 19, Folder 4 is restricted
because it contains personally identifiable information.

Access to original audio/visual materials (Series IX: Audio material) and computer files is restricted. The Kislak Center
will provide access to the information on these materials from duplicate master files. If the original does not already have
a copy, it will be sent to an outside vendor for copying. Patrons are financially responsible for the cost. The turnaround
time from request to delivery of digital items is about two weeks for up to five items and three to seven weeks for more than
five items. Please contact Reprographic Services (reprogr@upenn.edu) for cost estimates and ordering.

Once digital items are received, researchers will have access to the files on a dedicated computer in the Van Pelt-Dietrich
Library Center. Researchers should be aware of specifics of copyright law and act accordingly.

Use Restrictions

Copyright restrictions may exist. For most library holdings, the Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania do not hold copyright.
It is the responsibility of the requester to seek permission from the holder of the copyright to reproduce material from the
Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts.

Organizational Ambivalence - The National Havurah Committee, by Waxman, 1999.

9

1

Pre-Summer Institute, 1980, undated.

9

2

Summer Institute, 1974-1980, undated.

9

3

Summer Institute, 1980.

9

4-5

Summer Institute, 1981.

9

6-8

Summer Institute, 1982.

9

9-10

Summer Institute, 1983.

9

11

Summer Institute, 1984.

9

12

Summer Institute, 1985.

9

13

Summer Institute, 1986.

9

14-15

Summer Institute, 1990.

9

16

Summer Institute, 1991.

9

17

Summer Institute, 1992.

9

18

Summer Institute, 1993.

9

19

Summer Institute, 1994.

9

20

Summer Institute, 1996.

9

21

Summer Institute, Home and homelessness in Jewish sources class, 1996.

9

22

Summer Institute, Circumcision class, 1996.

9

23

Summer Institute, 1997.

9

24

Summer Institute, Schachter class, undated.

9

25

Union of American Hebrew Congregations, Havurah survey, 1979.

9

26

Series III. Synagogues.

Conditions Governing Access note

A small number of files in this series are restricted due to clergy-congregant privilege: Box 9, Folder 34; Box 9, Folder
38; Box 9, Folder 39; Box 11, Folder 26; Box 12, Folder 53. Researchers interested in viewing restricted files in this collection
should email the Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rarebooks, and Manuscripts for permission.

Series VI. Works by Michael Strassfeld.

Conditions Governing Access note

One file in this series is restricted due to personally identifiable information: Box 19, Folder 4. Researchers interested
in viewing restricted files in this collection should email the Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rarebooks, and Manuscripts
for permission.

A. Speeches and eulogies.

Box

Folder

Ansche Chesed annual meeting speech, 1998-1999.

18

25

Athena and Jeremy's wedding, undated.

18

26

Avodah Award speech, undated.

18

27

Bet am Shalom, 2012.

18

28

Capital campaign speech.

18

29

Chairlift dedication, undated.

18

30

Chelmsford Press conference, undated.

18

31

Dedication, 2004.

18

32

Eighth Day Pesach, crossing of the sea, 1995.

18

33

F.D.R. and the Jews, 2014.

18

34

Future of Havurot speech, undated.

18

35

G.A. speech, New York, 1993.

18

36

G.A. speech, Boston, 1995.

18

37

Gay marriage / homosexuality, d'var Torah, 2004, undated.

18

38

Gay Pride Shabbat, Congregation Beit Simchat Torah, 1998.

18

39

God in History in the Haggadah for Jewish Community Center panel, 1993-1997.

18

40

Golden Calf / Why I believe, undated.

18

41

Hatan Torah speech, undated.

18

42

Havdelah speech, Institute, 1990.

18

43

Honey from the rock, Kavanah, undated.

18

44

Hospitality, Lester Shriver, 2001, undated.

18

45

Idolatry, undated.

18

46

Installation at Society for the Advancement of Judaism, 2002.

18

47

Intermarriage speech and conference, and Hebrew Union College lecture, 1991-1993.

Prell, Riv-Ellen,
Prayer & community: the havurah in American Judaism (Detroit: Wayne State University Press), 1989.

28

12

Rabbis for Human Rights,
In every generation let each of us look upon ourselves as if we came forth out of Egypt: a Haggadah supplement on economic
justice (Philadelphia: Rabbis for Human Rights - North America), undated.

Strassfeld, Sharon, and Kathy Green,
The Jewish family book (Toronto: Bantam Books), 1981.

28

6

Waskow, Arthur I.,
Down-to-earth Judaism: food, money, sex, and the rest of life (New York: William Morrow and Company), 1995.

25

5

Waskow, Arthur I.,
The bush is burning! Radical Judaism faces the pharaohs of the modern superstate (New York: Macmillan Company), Includes photocopied review of the title from the New York Times Book Review, October 24,
1971, 1971.

Kairys, Susan,
The handbook of Jewish resources in Hawaii ([Honolulu]: Susan Kairys), Inscribed: "To the Catalogue authors, who had, unknowingly much to do with the publication, style
& content of this. That's, as I recall, a pretty high level of Tsadaka, if Maimonedes can be paraphrased.", 1975.

J. Jewish modernity.

Box

Folder

Sarna, Jonathan D.,
A great awakening: the transformation that shaped twentieth century American Judaism and its implications for today, CIJE Essay series (New York: Council for Initiatives in Jewish Education), undated.

Reconstructionist Commission on the Role of the Rabbi,
The rabbi-congregation relationship: a vision for the 21st century: report of the Reconstructionist Commission on the Role
of the Rabbi (Wyncote, Pa.: The Commission), 2 copies, 2001.

Greenberg, Blu,
How to run a traditional Jewish household, First Fireside edition (New York: Simon and Schuster), 1985.

28

15

Greenberg, Sidney, and S. Allan Sugarman,
A contemporary High Holiday service for teenagers and ... (Hartford, Conn.: Payer Book Press), 1970.

24

9

Hoffner, Mosad Eliezer,
A guide to blessings: a guide to brochos for various foods (New York: National Conference for Synagogue Youth of the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America), 1966.

23

4

Kane, June Devorah Kozak,
The power of the days: an Omer counting diary and book of days from Passover to Shavuoth (Alpine, N.J.: Angel Business Press), Inscribed: "A Blessed Journey! June Kozak Kane", 2000.

CLAL - National Jewish Center for Learning and Leadership,
A day for reflection: Yom Kippur Katan: a guide to an ancient practice of self-renewal (New York: CLAL - National Jewish Center for Learning and Leadership), 2001.

Sager, Susan Hawkins,
Making ready: a spiritual journal for the High Holy Days or any days you wish to make holy ([N.p.]: Susan Hawkins Sager), 1992.

24

10

Stern, Chaim,
Gates of joy (New York: KTAV Publishing House), 1991.

29

15

Jacobson, Simon,
A spiritual guide to the counting of the omer: forty-nine steps to personal refinement according to the Jewish tradition:
the forty-nine days of sefirah, First edition (Brooklyn, N.Y.: Vaad Hanochos Hatmimim), 1996.

Q. Jewish youth and education.

Box

Folder

Fox, Seymour, with William Novak,
Vision at the heart: lessons from Camp Ramah on the power of ideas in shaping educational institutions ([New York]: Council for Initiatives in Jewish Education), 1997.

23

9

Greenberg, Anna Gabrielle,
"Grande soy vanilla latte with cinnamon, no foam ...": Jewish identity and community in a time of unlimited choices ([New York]: Reboot), undated.

Central Conference of American Rabbis,
Gates of prayer: the new Union prayerbook: afternoon and evening services and prayers for the house of mourning (New York: Central Conference of American Rabbis), 1978.

23

11

Central Conference of American Rabbis,
Gates of prayer: the new Union prayerbook for weekdays, and at a house of mourning, Fourth printing (New York: Central Conference of American Rabbis), 1977.

26

8

Chaim Stern, ed.,
Gates of forgiveness: the Union selichot service: a service of preparation for the Days of Awe (New York: Central Conference of American Rabbis), 1980.

29

7

Cohen, Jeffrey M.,
Understanding the High Holyday services: a popular commentary to the Machzor (London: Routledge & Kegan Paul), 1983.

Silverman, Morris,
Prayers of consolation, for shiva, yahrzeit and kever avot; with readings and meditations, traditional Minh?a, Maariv and
Shah?ris service (Hartford, Conn.: Prayer Book Press), Hebrew and English on facing pages, 1956.

26

11

Silverman, Morris,
Prayers of consolation, for shiva, yahrzeit and kever avot; with readings and meditations, traditional Minh?a, Maariv and
Shah?ris service (Bridgeport, Conn.: Prayer Book Press), Hebrew and English on facing pages, 1972.

Society for the Advancement of Judaism,
Musaf Amidah for Shabbat ([New York]: Society for the Advancement of Judaism), 2 copies, undated.

23

6

Society for the Advancement of Judaism,
Rosh Hashanah Musaf: excerpted from Kol Haneshamah: Prayerbook for the Days of Awe, Reconstructionist Press (New York: Society for the Advancement of Judaism), undated.

23

6

Society for the Advancement of Judaism,
Songbook: and we shall sing a new song in His presence - Hallelujah (New York: Society for the Advancement of Judaism), 1977.

23

2

Society for the Advancement of Judaism Liturgical Subcommittee,
Malchuyot, zichronot, shofarot (New York: Society for the Advancement of Judaism), 1980.

28

22

Stern, Chaim, ed.,
Gates of heaven: services for children and their parents on the Days of Awe (New York: KTAV Publishing House), 1979.

Alliance Church (with Chinese characters) at the former Forward Building, Lower East Side, undated.

32

1

Synagogue along the oceanfront in Los Angeles, undated.

32

1

Synagogue along the oceanfront in Los Angeles, undated.

32

1

Untitled image of two men in front of Templo Union Hebrea Chevet-Ahim, undated.

32

1

Untitled image of rubble in Synagogue, undated.

32

1

Bargaining for fish, undated.

32

1

Bocce on the Lower East Side, undated.

32

1

Tsdekah: selling used clothing in Seward Park where once Socialist rallies were common, undated.

32

1

Los Angeles, undated.

32

1

Educational Alliance on the Lower East Side, undated.

32

1

Sukkot in Los Angeles (boy with lulav), undated.

32

1

Canal & Essex Streets on Lower East Side, undated.

32

1

Untitled mirror image of clouds, undated.

32

1

Untitled image of pickles, undated.

32

1

Untitled image of books on bookshelf, undated.

32

1

Untitled image of leaves backlit by the sun, undated.

32

1

The Purim Tish, undated.

32

1

Untitled image of a man busking with a small glockenspiel, undated.

32

1

The older residents of the Lower East Side are quick to point out that at one time all of the shop signs were in Yiddish.
Every Sunday, Orchard Street is closed to traffic and people come from all over the city to shop there, undated.

32

1

Untitled image of a Hasidic man waiting for a subway train, undated.

32

1

B. Havurah photographs.

Box

Folder

Weiss's Farm, 1977 July 4.

32

2

Purim at Havurat Shalom, by photographer Jeff Green, undated.

32

2

Purim in New York Havurah Community of Upper West Side, by photographer Bill Aron, undated.

Untitled scene of man with Star of David t-shirt, men in suits clapping, and a guitarist, by photographer Roy N. De Blieck,
Long Island Jewish World, undated.

32

3

Soviet Jewry/How to make waves, Silva Zalmonson in bed surrounded by group of women, with sign "Silva Zalmanson Hunger Strike
Day #9," credited to Greater New York Conference for Soviet Jewry, by photographer Isaac Berez, undated.

32

3

In front of the Forward building, a young Misha Avramoff of Project Ezra takes a friend for a walk on Lower East Side, by
photographer Bill Aron, undated.

32

3

Synagogue, by photographer A. Thomas Koevary, undated.

32

3

Untitled scene of two individuals in front of a Torah scroll, with sign "New York Society for the Deaf," by photographer Herbert
Halweil, undated.

32

3

Tashlich along the ocean in Los Angeles, by photographer Bill Aron, undated.

32

3

Synagogue in Berlin, credited to Inter Nationes, undated.

32

3

Untitled image of hand with prayer notes inserted in the Western Wall of Jerusalem, credited to Israel Government Tourist
Office, undated.

32

3

The Forward Building on the Lower East Side, by photographer Bill Aron, undated.

Emma Lazarus, author of "The New Colossus," carved on the pedestal of the Statue of Liberty, credited to Museum of the City
of New York, undated.

32

3

Untitled portrait of a young Hasidic boy, credited to Zionist Archives and Library, undated.

32

3

Untitled image of a young boy holding a shoe, credited to Zionist Archives and Library, undated.

32

3

Untitled scene of a group having a conversation while seated on wooden crates, by photographer Marie Norkin Warach, 1979.

32

3

Untitled portrait of an elderly woman, credited to Zionist Archives and Library, undated.

32

3

Untitled image of young woman in uniform holding a goat, credited to Israel Information Services, Consulate General of Israel,
New York, New York, undated.

32

3

Untitled portrait of a young boy, by photographer Debbie Cooper, undated.

32

3

A Hassidic Rabbi of Jerusalem, credited to Israel Information Services, Consulate General of Israel, New York, New York, 1959
October.

32

3

The old man in this photo fled at the time of Poland's invasion & arrived in Eretz Israel after a long & wearisome journey.
His sons & daughters & grand children remained behind in the Nazi hell & he has not had any news from them since. He is sitting
on a bench in front of the Aged Home, only too obviously thinking of the tragedy of Israel, credited to Zionist Archives and
Library, undated.

Series IX: Audio material (cds, cassettes, and records).

Conditions Governing Access note

Access to original audio/visual materials in this series is restricted. The Kislak Center will provide access to the information
on these materials from duplicate master files. If the original does not already have a copy, it will be sent to an outside
vendor for copying. Patrons are financially responsible for the cost. The turnaround time from request to delivery of digital
items is about two weeks for up to five items and three to seven weeks for more than five items. Please contact Reprographic
Services (reprogr@upenn.edu) for cost estimates and ordering.

Once digital items are received, researchers will have access to the files on a dedicated computer in the Van Pelt-Dietrich
Library Center. Researchers should be aware of specifics of copyright law and act accordingly.

A. Chassidic/Traditional cassettes (in English).

Conditions Governing Access note

Access to original audio/visual materials in this subseries is restricted. The Kislak Center will provide access to the information
on these materials from duplicate master files. If the original does not already have a copy, it will be sent to an outside
vendor for copying. Patrons are financially responsible for the cost. The turnaround time from request to delivery of digital
items is about two weeks for up to five items and three to seven weeks for more than five items. Please contact Reprographic
Services (reprogr@upenn.edu) for cost estimates and ordering.

Once digital items are received, researchers will have access to the files on a dedicated computer in the Van Pelt-Dietrich
Library Center. Researchers should be aware of specifics of copyright law and act accordingly.